Running fast time inspires Rudisha as he eyes world title defence

Kenya's David Rudisha believes he has nothing more to prove ahead of the 2017 season where he targets to run closer to his personal best time.

Rudisha, 28, wants to focus his energy on retaining his 800m title and will pitch camp in Pretoria to work out on his fitness after taking off two months rest.

"I must say running a world record is not something I am looking forward to now. This is because I have a long way to go to regain my fitness after the holiday and am running behind schedule.

"So I will set a mark of what I can do and running fast time is one of them but retaining my title in London 2017 is my major motivation," he said.

The World and Olympic 800m champion will not make his annual trip to Australia early next year for his start to the season. Instead, Rudisha, who is also the world 800m record holder, has opted to train in South Africa at the end of January as part of his preparations for his world title defence.

Rudisha, who won Middle Distance Athlete of the Year Award during Athletics Kenya Gala, said he will compete in several Athletics Kenya Track and Field meetings and Diamond League events ahead of the World Championships trials.

Over the years, Rudisha has always opted to race at the IAAF Melbourne World Challenge and the Perth Track Classic ahead of his competitive season.

"I won't be going to Australia this time around since I started my preparations late," said Rudisha, who retained his Olympic title in August, having won it for the first time at the 2012 London in a world record of 1 minute and 40.91 seconds. He won in Rio with the world leading time of 1:42.15.

"I just want to move my training camp to South Africa late January to February. I have always started my preparations early over the years but I have been late this time," Rudisha said. "I want to see how it goes this time."

Rudisha said his desire is to be in the best form during the World Championships set for August 4-13 in London. Endit